Improvement in car-couplings



UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICE.

JAMES B. SMITH, OF HEPWORTH, CANADA,

IMPROVEMENT IN CAR-COUPLINGS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 169,20 1, dated October 26, 1875; application filed August 21, 1875.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES B. SMITH, of Hepworth, in the Province of Ontario and Dominion of Canada, have invented a new and Improved Gar-Coupling, of which the following is a specification:

In the accompanying drawing, Figure represents a top view of my improved carcoupling in the act of coupling; Fig. 2, a top view of the same in coupled position and Fig. 3, a side elevation of the same.

Similar letters of reference indicate correspondin g parts.

The invention will first be described in connection with drawing, and then pointed out in the claim.

In the drawing, A represents the draw-bar of my improved car-coupling, which is pivoted to a cushioned block, A, attached to the bottom frame ofthe car in any approved manner. The draw-bar A swings on its pivot-pin a, between stop-pins I) at the front end of the forward-extending block A. The draw-bar has a hookshaped front end, d, and a sidewise-extending spur, e, that is curved at the rear side to form a bearing for the band-spring B. The spring B is extended forward to aboutthe length of the draw-bar, and curved inwardly infront of spur e, to bear on the front part of the interlocking draw-bar after coupling, and retain the same securely. yet in a yielding manner, as shown in Fig. 2. A lever, O, is pivoted to the recessed front part of the draw-bar, and

connected, by a guide-bar, D, pivoted thereto,-

to the bottom of the car at the side of the same, bar D being recessed to fit into staples or other guide-bearings of the car to retain the draw-bar in coupled or uncoupled position.

By the lever and bar the draw-head may be duce the secure interlocking of the hooks, and I prevent the uncoupling in connection with the side spurs. I

For uncoupling, the front end of lever O is thrown against the hook end of the interlocking draw-bar, which is thereby carried sidewise to clear the hook end, whose lever is operated. The draw-bars may thus be separated without difficulty; and the lever is then carried back again into the recess of the drawbar, so that the same is ready again for coupling.

When the cars are thrown off the track the draw-bars are instantly detached, and prevent thereby the throwing off of the adjoining cars.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- An automatic car-coupling, composed of a laterally-swinging draw-bar, with hook end and side spur, a curved guard-spring, extending forward over the spur, and an uncouplinglever mechanism, substantially in the manner and for the purpose set forth.

JAMES B. SMITH.

Witnesses:

PAUL GoEPEL, T. B. MOSHER. 

